Course Descriptions

Classes

Credits

Colloquium

1

Colloquium is a steady flow of people, ideas, methods, and provocations. As the sole space and time that the entire Grad Media community gathers together, Colloquium is one of the prime program-wide knowledge sharing opportunities. All program business is discussed here, announcements are made, and faculty and students give reports from the field. Design Dialogues with distinguished guests and off-site visits are interspersed with departmental pecha kuchas (a 6:40 performance lecture format limited to 20 slides, at 20 seconds each) and alumni updates. Grades for Colloquium are based on attendance, contribution, and quality of project documentation and reflection on student websites.

Course number: GMDP-515Prerequisite: n/a

Creative Strategies

This class will teach students a strategic approach to creativity that will stimulate, encourage and liberate their own creative potential. Through in-class exercises, they will learn how to break patterns, reframe problems and apply new conceptual thinking into their work. The homework assignments are designed to explore the theoretical components of creativity further and to discover their individual unchartered territories for new methods of problem solving. With the use of cross disciplinary evaluation techniques students will better understand their own learning process and be able to apply them to expand their range of creative thinking skills.

Course number: PRD-249Prerequisite: n/a

Creative Strategies

3

This class will teach students a strategic approach to creativity that will stimulate, encourage and liberate their own creative potential. Through in-class exercises, they will learn how to break patterns, reframe problems and apply new conceptual thinking into their work. The homework assignments are designed to explore the theoretical components of creativity further and to discover their individual unchartered territories for new methods of problem solving. With the use of cross disciplinary evaluation techniques students will better understand their own learning process and be able to apply them to expand their range of creative thinking skills.

Course number: TDS-449Prerequisite: n/a

Creative Technology 1

3

This course provides a foundation in design-focused creative technology methods, strategies and applications. Students learn to effectively use technology for a range of prototyping approaches, from "wizard-of-oz" demos to high-fidelity functional experience prototypes. Topics include tangible interaction, networks, digital fabrication, sensors, actuators, programming, simulation, and electronics on a range of platforms, from microcontrollers to embedded computers to 3D authoring environments (e.g. Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Unity). Languages covered include Python, Javascript and C#. The course is designed to challenge both tech novices and experienced technologists alike.

Course number: GMDP-516Prerequisite: n/a

Creative Technology 1

Creative Technology prepares designers to research, develop and deploy technology oriented media design projects. The course teaches a range of technology skills and methodologies for designers by immersing students in programming, embedded computing, Web/network systems, mechanical design, and computer aided design/fabrication. While the class is broad and introductory, it rests on a "backbone" of programming, the lens through which a variety of content and concepts will be introduced.

Course number: GMDP-502Prerequisite: n/a

Creative Technology 2

Creative Technology prepares designers to research, develop and deploy technology oriented media design projects. The course teaches a range of technology skills and methodologies for designers by immersing students in programming, embedded computing, Web/network systems, mechanical design, and computer aided design/fabrication. While the class is broad and introductory, it rests on a "backbone" of programming, the lens through which a variety of content and concepts will be introduced.

Course number: GMDP-507Prerequisite: n/a

Creative Technology 2

3

This course offers design and technology projects that complement other courses in the program, and focuses on emerging technologies such as machine learning, AR/VR, and simulation. Students learn to apply new technologies in creative ways, and experiment with fast prototyping and experimentation to discover potential and unexpected affordances of technologies. Students will also have the opportunity to work on an independent technical project with mentorship of the faculty member.

Creative Technology 3

3

This course offers design and technology projects that complement other courses in the program, and focuses on emerging technologies such as machine learning, AR/VR, and simulation. Students learn to apply new technologies in creative ways, and experiment with fast prototyping and experimentation to discover potential and unexpected affordances of technologies. Students will also have the opportunity to work on an independent technical project with mentorship of the faculty member.?

Course number: GMDP-616Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Frameworks 1 (FIELD)

This course provides a space for students to connect issues, histories and theories from their work in the Core classes. The combination of readings, screenings, research, and guest lectures comprise the critical frameworks that are core to student work in their chosen track. In this class students will learn to find their own entry point into the critical dialogue of design and experience how the act of designing is always already embedded in that discourse. Students will learn to identify and develop their own unique point of view and to articulate and share it through writing and design.

Course number: GMDP-541Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Frameworks 1 (LAB)

This course introduces students to issues, histories and theories relevant to practices in media design and related fields. The combination of readings, screenings, research, and guest lectures comprise the critical frameworks that are core to student work in their chosen track. In this class students will learn to find their own entry point into the critical dialogue of design and experience how the act of designing is always already embedded in that discourse. Students will learn to identify and develop their own unique point of view and to articulate and share it through writing and design.

Course number: GMDP-531Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Frameworks 2 (FIELD)

Students consider issues from the project in the context of political/social theory, case studies from other fields, issues in development, the rhetoric of good, and cross-cultural design. Students learn project documentation practices, how to use writing as a tool for critical reflection, and how to connect individual experience with wider issues to develop individual research agendas.

Course number: GMDP-542Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Frameworks 2 (LAB)

This course continues the exploration of contemporary issues, histories and theories in media design and related fields. Students are challenged to respond to the readings, screenings, research, and guest lectures by situating their projects in a context that extends beyond the grad school crit room to engage with issues that impact the field of media design.

Course number: GMDP-532Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Histories 1

3

This course is a weekly 3-hour seminar in which students build a strong foundation in the theories and discourses surrounding visual culture, mass media, and design. Rather than proceeding chronologically, students investigate ideas through a series of overlapping and interrelated thematics with the goal of developing frameworks that enable a robust and critically engaged media design practice. The course materials will address a variety of media and design practices as they intersect with key theoretical discourses. Most of the texts will focus on topics related to American and European visual culture, but not to the exclusion of other cultural and geographic contexts. Course materials will be examined from a variety of perspectives, and will explore questions of modernity, textuality, visuality, technology, gender, race, and globalization.

Course number: GMDP-504Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Histories 2

3

This course is a weekly 3-hour seminar in which students build a strong foundation in the theories and discourses surrounding visual culture, mass media, and design. Rather than proceeding chronologically, students investigate ideas through a series of overlapping and interrelated thematics with the goal of developing frameworks that enable a robust and critically engaged media design practice. The course materials will address a variety of media and design practices as they intersect with key theoretical discourses. Most of the texts will focus on topics related to American and European visual culture, but not to the exclusion of other cultural and geographic contexts. Course materials will be examined from a variety of perspectives, and will explore questions of modernity, textuality, visuality, technology, gender, race, and globalization.

Critical Practices 1

3

In the Fall term, students produce the written component of their thesis, learning to use writing as an important generative tool in the development of the thesis. Students learn to situate their work within the discourse through both traditional and design-research-based scholarly activities.

Course number: GMDP-603Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Practices 1 (FIELD)

This course provides a reflective space for situating the thesis work as it is under development. Students learn to situate their work within the literature and the field through both traditional and design-research-based scholarly activities. Students work with a team of advisors to develop the critical framing appropriate to specific projects and audiences.

Course number: GMDP-641Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Practices 1 (LAB)

This course provides a reflective space for situating the thesis work as it is under development. Students learn to situate their work within the literature and the field through both traditional and design-research-based scholarly activities. Students work with a team of writing advisors to develop thesis statements and papers and learn to approach writing as making.

Course number: GMDP-631Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Practices 2

In the Spring term, students focus on how to bring their work out into the world through a variety of venues from social media to academic journals to biennales. They meet and visit with curators, editors, and a range of practitioners from industry to the arts. Students learn how to frame and situate their freshly developing design practice and projects, culminating in the creation of a range of materials to promote and disseminate their thesis.

Critical Practices 2 (FIELD)

This course continues to provide a reflective space for situating the thesis work with an emphasis on the student's future practice as it is taking shape through the thesis project. Students learn about intellectual property, entrepreneurial strategies, scholarly practices, and models for design research and practice as it relates to their own.

Course number: GMDP-642Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Practices 2 (LAB)

3

This course continues to provide a reflective space for situating the thesis work with an emphasis on the student's future practice as it is taking shape through the thesis project. Students learn about intellectual property, entrepreneurial strategies, scholarly practices, and models for design research and practice as it relates to their own.

Course number: GMDP-632Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Worldviews 1

3

This course critically examines design's normative worldview via theory, case study, research and writing. Challenging the adequacy of modernist, European value sets for contemporary design, students will explore their own worldviews, and be confronted by those of others. How can a critically engaged understanding of culture and context equip designers for productively addressing contemporary issues? In what ways does a serious consideration of context shape our understanding of materials, aesthetics, or even design itself?

Course number: GMDP-517Prerequisite: n/a

Critical Worldviews 2

3

This course continues to critically examine design's normative worldview via theory, case study, researchand writing. Students will explore their own worldviews, and be confronted by those of others. Students will begin to develop their own position to productively address contemporary issues through writing and reflection on their burgeoning design practice in preparation for the independent research of the thesis year.

Development Projects 1

6

This is a studio-based course in which students learn about design through a critical approach to designerly making. The course is divided into four six-week sections, each with a different instructor. The sections provide design experience for differing scales, contexts, and approaches. Through readings and viewings students will learn to incorporate theoretical and historical research into the making process. Through exposure to material and technological histories, as well as current and future perspectives, students will be encouraged to "work the material" to find novel approaches and projects. Throughout, students will learn to consider the role of the people who engage with their work as part of the design, and sometimes as part of the design process itself.

Course number: GMDP-503Prerequisite: n/a

Development Projects 2

6

This is a studio-based course in which students learn about design through a critical approach to designerly making. The course is divided into four six-week sections, each with a different instructor. The sections provide design experience for differing scales, contexts, and approaches. Through readings and viewings students will learn to incorporate theoretical and historical research into the making process. Through exposure to material and technological histories, as well as current and future perspectives, students will be encouraged to "work the material" to find novel approaches and projects. Throughout, students will learn to consider the role of the people who engage with their work as part of the design, and sometimes as part of the design process itself.

Field Core A

Field Core B

Field Core C

Field Projects 1

Course number: GMDP-521Prerequisite: n/a

Field Projects 2

Course number: GMDP-522Prerequisite: n/a

Field Thesis 1

12

Course number: GMDP-621Prerequisite: n/a

Field Thesis 2

12

This course provides a structure for students as they work on their individual thesis projects. Students work independently with weekly guidance from their lead advisor and intermittent meetings with thesis committee members individually and as a group. Includes a major project review in Week 9.

Course number: GMDP-622Prerequisite: n/a

Graduate Design 1

6

In this course, students choose among a series of intensive project-based modules of varying durations that are based upon an emerging topic in technology, culture, global politics, and/or emerging science, developed through one or more of the MDP's research clusters. The student work that results may take a variety of forms. Students learn to: approach design as a critical investigation; structure their time and working process; document and articulate project concepts in presentation, exhibition, and web formats; work reflexively.

Course number: GMDP-514Prerequisite: n/a

Graduate Design 2

9

The Spring project modules are of a longer duration, allowing students to take a deep dive into a topic, method, and/or technology. Each project module is again based on an emerging topic within technology, culture, global politics, and/or emerging science, developed through one or more of the MDP's research clusters. Each module engages external collaborators, project partners, and travel to locations or extraordinary situations. The student work that results may take a variety of forms. Students learn to: approach design as a critical investigation; structure their own process of research, prototyping, and design experimentation; document and articulate project concepts in presentation, exhibition, and web formats; work reflexively.

Course number: GMDP-564Prerequisite: Take GMDP-514, Graduate Design 1

ID Graphics

3

Upon completion of IDGraphics1 students will be able to: Understand and correctly use typographic terminology; 2) demonstrate historical knowledge and correct selection of typefaces; 3) deploy all the attributes of successful typographic practice, including but not limited to, use of all spacing variations, layout & hierarchy, and visual/grid systems; 4) practice graphic design with type & image across multiples; 5) be able to develop a logotype; 6) practice graphic design in the context of branded communication. The pre-requisite is PRD-104 Development of Form.

Lab Core A: Structures

In this course students will learn about how our interactions, lives, and even thinking are structured: from cities to computation to biology to language. Students will learn to approach the designing of structures as a way to generate the unexpected rather than to merely categorize and contain.

Course number: GMDP-510APrerequisite: n/a

Lab Core B: Interactions

Whether getting things done, biding time, following serendipity, or being entertained, users are readers, viewers, thinkers, and - in well-designed interactions - active participants who build their own experiences and meaning spaces. To learn about this approach, called productive interaction, students will create a tangible interaction as the means to explore an information space.

Course number: GMDP-510BPrerequisite: n/a

Lab Core C: Interventions

This course is a hands-on investigation into how people engage with the world around them, powered by a motivation to explore and to develop new modes of perception. Using everything from low-tech electronics to social media, students will learn to interact with people and places with the goal of generating new insights into each.

Course number: GMDP-510CPrerequisite: n/a

Lab Projects 1

Lab Projects are a series of two-to-five-week-long conceptual projects called "Inquiries" and are built around a theme emerging from culture, technology or science. Inquiries begin with a question or a phenomenon and ask "what if"? Each inquiry engages external collaborators, project partners, and travel to locations or extraordinary situations. The projects that result take a variety of forms. Students learn to: approach design as a critical investigation; structure their time and working process; document and articulate project concepts in presentation, exhibition, and web formats; work reflexively.

Course number: GMDP-511Prerequisite: n/a

Lab Projects 2

Each year the Lab track runs a set of five Inquiries- 2-5 week intensive projects built around a theme emerging from culture, technology or science. Lab Projects 2 begins with a question or a phenomenon and ask "what if"? Each inquiry engages external collaborators, project partners, and travel to locations or extraordinary situations. The projects that result take a variety of forms.

Course number: GMDP-512Prerequisite: n/a

Lab Thesis 1

12

This course provides a structure for students as they work on their individual thesis projects. In weeks 1-7, faculty mentors guide small groups of students in the early stages of investigating and defining their thesis pursuits. In weeks 8-14, each student works with a thesis committee-a team of thesis advisors selected to support each student's particular subject and approach. Students meet with their lead advisor on a weekly basis and with committee members individually and as a group.

Course number: GMDP-611Prerequisite: n/a

Lab Thesis 2

12

This course provides a structure for students as they work on their individual thesis projects. Students work independently with weekly guidance from their lead advisor and intermittent meetings with thesis committee members individually and as a group. Includes a major project review in Week 9.

Course number: GMDP-612Prerequisite: n/a

Media Design 1

2

This course is a reflective space for students who are new to the MDP. Students will learn about their course of study as well as begin to develop their own path to thesis. Weekly discussions may include guest visits from the MDP community-faculty, thesis students, and alumni-as well as external guests. The class will also be the context for preparation for cross track and cross-level activities and final reviews and exhibitions.

Course number: GMDP-501Prerequisite: n/a

Media Design 2

2

This course is a reflective space for students who are new to the MDP. Students will learn about their course of study as well as begin to develop their own path to thesis. Weekly discussions may include guest visits from the MDP community-faculty, thesis students, and alumni-as well as external guests. The class will also be the context for preparation for cross track and cross-level activities and final reviews and exhibitions.

Course number: GMDP-506Prerequisite: Take GMDP-501, Media Design 1

Motion Design 1

3

Students will gain a greater command for creating time-based work. We will employ traditional animation principles as well as introducing new tools to assist in developing a strong sense of motion design. Students will use their creativity by design, typographic and illustration skills in developing their motion graphics by incorporating industry standard techniques and software. The two major projects students will create in this course will teach the basic process of creating a motion graphic which will include the concept, design, storyboard, animation and output.

Motion Design 1

Research

3

In this 14 week course, students work on research projects conducted by MDP over the Summer term. These projects give students the unique opportunity to work collaboratively on creative research led by MDP faculty and visiting researchers from around the world. Student commitment is half-time, allowing time for reflection or independent work. This course requires petition through the department chair.

Course number: GMDP-597Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Continuation

0

Required course for student that have completed all their course work but have not completed their thesis. This "0" unit, no cost course should be taken every semester until the thesis is complete.

Course number: GMDP-699Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Gateway

0

Thesis Gateway is a Pass/Fail Zero unit course that Media Design students must pass in the Spring before entering into their final year... their Thesis Year. If a student does not pass, the student is required to do a Lite Term in that Summer to work on those issues in which the student is lacking. The student will re-take Thesis Gateway at that time. If the student does not pass a second time, the studnet will be dismissed from the program.

Course number: GMDP-610Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Prep

1

In this course students will reflect on and focus their developing and ongoing creative practice during their Concept year. The course is comprised of a mixture of individual meetings, group discussion, and design and short writing activities. These activities will help students develop their position; inform their curricular choices for Spring electives and the Summer "X-term" (eg internships, additional classes, on-campus research); and act as a foundation for their thesis year. In the later stages of the course, work will focus on preparing for the Thesis Gateway review, where students will present their foundation thesis frameworks and design explorations as demonstration of readiness to move into the critical work of the thesis year.?

Course number: GMDP-551Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 1

Thesis Studio 1 provides a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work. Design experiments and research activities are structured through assigned briefs and deadlines that help each student to follow a line of inquiry and progressively build a body of work. Regular participation in research cluster seminars led by one or more faculty exposes students to contemporary work and provides depth and context to the students' own research questions. By the end of the term, each student will have defined the research focus and design work that is the foundation for their thesis.

Course number: GMDP-602Prerequisite: n/a

Thesis Studio 2

Thesis Studio 2 continues to provide a structure for students to develop their individual thesis work with an emphasis on completing finished work while also situating it within various audiences and discourses. Students are expected to actively contribute to research cluster seminars. The term culminates with public events in which students share their work with guest critics, design peers, industry recruiters, and the general public.

Course number: GMDP-652Prerequisite: Take GMDP-602, Thesis Studio 1

Type 5: Transmedia

3

Students in Type 5 will develop a dynamic visual language, logotype, and graphic elements for a Cultural Entity that will engage innovative solutions and working prototypes for traditional and merging media to be appied to print, screen and apatial contexts.

Workshops (Concept)

3

In the first few weeks of the semester, Concept Year students choose from a range of workshops to build facility with skills, methods, tools, and ways of working needed to take on emerging design challenges. Since MDP students come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, each student has the opportunity to select the workshops that are right for them.

Course number: GMDP-513Prerequisite: n/a

Workshops (Dev)

1

In the first few weeks of the semester, Dev Year students choose from a range of workshops to build facility with skills, methods, tools, and ways of working needed to take on emerging design challenges. Since MDP students come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, each student has the opportunity to select the workshops that are right for them.

Course number: GMDP-523Prerequisite: n/a

Workshops (Thesis)

In the first few weeks of the semester, Thesis Year students choose from a range of workshops to continue to build facility with skills, methods, tools, and ways of working needed to advance their thesis work. Each student has the opportunity to select the workshops that are right for them.